Guardian Life Insurance

Workday Platform & Governance Owner - Workday SME

Guardian Life Insurance$152K — $250K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7–10 years HRIS experience
  • 5+ years advanced hands-on Workday configuration
  • Workday Pro Certifications
  • Deep expertise across all major Workday modules
  • Strong Position Management and Job Management experience
  • Experience designing and maintaining security architecture
  • Strong understanding of SOD and audit controls
  • Experience operating within a multi-tenant governance model

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the senior technical authority across all Workday modules
  • Advise HRIT engineers on complex configuration design and new functionality
  • Mentor team members on advanced configuration practices
  • Configure complex cross-domain business processes
  • Oversee all Workday tenant management and governance
  • Chair Workday Change Advisory Board for intake and demand
  • Maintain enterprise Workday security model

Benefits

  • Work-from-home flexibility three days a week
  • Collaborative work environment in multiple locations (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Involvement in a large-scale HRIS supporting over 10,000 employees
  • Opportunity to lead governance processes and enhance Workday functionality
  • Mentorship and professional development opportunities within the team
Full Job Description

Position Summary

The Workday Platform & Governance Owner serves as the technical subject matter expert (SME) and governance authority for the Workday ecosystem supporting 10,000+ employees.  

This role is responsible for tenant management, security administration, production change control, configuration standards, and complex cross-module configuration within Workday. 

This position operates within IT, operating within a structured HRIS (functional design) and HRIT (technical delivery) model.  This role ensures Workday remains secure, architecturally aligned, compliant, and technically optimized. While HRIT Engineers own module delivery, this role serves as the enterprise technical SME across all Workday domains and provides hands-on configuration for complex or cross-functional initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Technical SME (All Workday Modules)

  • Serve as the senior technical authority across: 
  • Core HCM 
  • Position Management & Job Management 
  • Benefits 
  • Compensation & Advanced Compensation 
  • Recruiting 
  • Talent Management 
  • Workday Learning 
  • Payroll 
  • Time Tracking & Absence 
  • Security 
  • Integrations (EIB, Core Connectors, APIs, Studio fundamentals) 

Responsibilities include advising HRIT engineers on complex configuration design, new releases, AI agents and new functionality, validating cross-module impacts, supporting troubleshooting of high-severity issues, and mentoring team members on advanced configuration practices. 

Hands-On Configuration Responsibilities

  • Configure complex cross-domain business processes 
  • Design and implement advanced security groups and domain policies 
  • Configure complex eligibility rules and condition logic 
  • Support advanced compensation cycle setup 
  • Configure complex Position Management structures 
  • Build enterprise-impact calculated fields 
  • Support integration troubleshooting 
  • Perform configuration clean-up and technical debt remediation 

Tenant Management & Environment Governance

  • Create and Maintain Tenant Management Plan
  • Oversee all Workday tenants (Production, Sandbox, Dev, Preview) 
  • Coordinate sandbox refresh schedules 
  • Enforce Dev → Test → Prod migration controls 
  • Approve production configuration migrations 
  • Oversee release preview cycles 
  • Maintain production access governance 
  • Support emergency change management 
  • Lead governance processes, including prioritization of enhancements, upgrades and releases.
  • Establish and enforce technical and application change management standards, ensuring compliance with documentation and audit requirements

Security & Access Governance

  • Maintain enterprise Workday security model 
  • Monitor and remediate segregation of duties (SOD) conflicts 
  • Conduct periodic security reviews 
  • Review elevated access requests 
  • Partner with IT Security and Audit teams 

Production Change Control & CAB Leadership

  • Chair Workday Change Advisory Board (CAB) for Intake and Demand
  • Review cross-module impact of proposed changes 
  • Validate testing documentation prior to approval 
  • Maintain structured change control records 

Required Qualifications

  • 7–10 years HRIS experience 
  • 5+ years advanced hands-on Workday configuration 
  • Workday Pro Certifications 
  • Deep expertise across all major Workday modules  
  • Strong Position Management and Job Management experience 
  • Experience designing and maintaining security architecture 
  • Strong understanding of SOD and audit controls 
  • Experience operating within a multi-tenant governance model 

Location:

  • Three days a week at a Guardian office in New York, NY, Holmdel, NJ or Stanford, CT>

Salary Range:

$152,290.00 - $250,195.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

About Guardian Life Insurance

Guardian Life Insurance Careers

Join the Guardian Life Insurance team today and be part of a company that values growth, leadership, and innovation. As a leading provider in the insurance industry, Guardian Life Insurance offers a wealth of job opportunities that empower you to shape your future and strengthen your professional skills. Work You’ll Do At Guardian Life Insurance, you’ll collaborate with a diverse team of experts dedicated to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions to our clients. Our culture thrives on inclusivity and the shared ambition of our team members to drive positive change in the insurance sector. Explore a variety of career paths in areas ranging from customer service to financial advisement, each offering the potential to engage with transformative projects that impact lives. Our commitment to professional growth is evident in our robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, designed to enhance your skills and advance your career. Innovative Work Guardian Life Insurance is at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology and personalized service. Join us and contribute to initiatives that redefine industry standards and lead to more predictive and personalized customer experiences. Be Part of a Great Team Our team at Guardian Life Insurance is our strongest asset. We foster an environment where creativity and effectiveness are encouraged, making it a perfect place for those who seek to innovate and excel in their careers. With a focus on nurturing talent, we offer comprehensive benefits, competitive salaries, and a supportive atmosphere that advocates work-life balance. Future-Proof Your Career With Guardian Life Insurance, your career is future-proof. Dive into a range of employment opportunities that not only align with your current skills but also challenge you to grow and expand your capabilities. Whether you’re looking for a full-time position, an internship, or even leadership roles, Guardian Life Insurance is committed to helping you find the right path. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the job opportunities waiting for you at Guardian Life Insurance. We are continuously hiring and looking for individuals who are passionate, driven, and ready to contribute to our mission. Search open positions that match your skills and interests, and take the first step towards a rewarding career with us. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest career tips, industry insights, and company news—all from the professionals who make Guardian Life Insurance a leader in the insurance industry. Our careers blog provides valuable information to help you prepare for your next interview, polish your resume, and enhance your networking abilities. Job Alert Emails Customize your experience by subscribing to job alerts and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Guardian Life Insurance, and see how you can contribute to our legacy of excellence and innovation. Join Guardian Life Insurance today and be part of a company that’s dedicated to your career growth and professional development.
Learn more about Guardian Life Insurance
Size
9,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1860

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